-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- There is , perhaps , no greater living symbol of the untamed , pioneer spirit of the American West than the wild mustang .

In the Great Basin of the United States -- a vast , empty , desert plain that stretches across most of Nevada and includes parts of Utah , Idaho , Oregon and California -- it 's estimated that 40,000 mustangs still roam free .

They 're regarded by many as part of the national heritage and a treasure for people the world over to enjoy .

`` They 're sensual , '' says Madeleine Pickens , owner of Nevada 's new Mustang Monument : Wild Horse Eco Resort . `` When you come across a wild bunch , it 's euphoria . ''

Her new resort provides a sanctuary for some of these horses while also offering a deluxe stay for those interested in discovering a little more about this American icon .

History of the Mustang

Though some dispute the claim , scholars generally believe that mustangs were introduced to the New World by the Spanish in 1493 , having been brought over by Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas .

When Native Americans first saw them , they called them `` big dogs . ''

But soon they became an essential component of the life of America 's first people and are still considered sacred by many tribes .

In the 19th century , horses of all types , of course , played an essential role in the westward expansion and modernization of America .

Future uncertain

Wild horses are protected under federal law .

But protection policies are n't popular with everyone who lives and works in the West .

Ranchers view mustangs as a threat to their livelihood .

`` They 're feral , '' says a former mustanger -- the term used for cowboys charged with controlling their numbers . `` Without a natural predator , their presence is unsustainable and bad for the environment . ''

Charged with maintaining the ecological balance of public grazing land , the federal Bureau of Land Management -LRB- BLM -RRB- has found itself in the middle of disputes related to mustangs and wild horses . -LRB- Often used generically to describe any wild horse , `` mustang '' is derived from the Spanish term `` mustengo , '' which means `` ownerless beast '' or `` stray horse . '' -RRB-

In April , according to The Salt Lake Tribune , Iron County officials in Utah drafted a letter to the BLM in effect telling the government that if it did n't remove wild horses from their land , local residents would do the job themselves .

In June , a suit brought against the federal government by the Nevada Association of Counties and Nevada Farm Bureau Federation demanded that the BLM accelerate roundups of mustangs there , as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal .

In Nevada , the BLM agreed with ranchers that wild herds threaten the range , but also said it does n't have the resources to conduct the popular roundups .

Roundups

Roundups of free roaming horses destined for short term holding pens -- or worse , illegal poaching for sale to slaughterhouses -- have become regular occurrences .

Animal rights groups argue that many of these `` gatherings '' are unnecessarily cruel , leaving many animals wounded or dead .

They contend that the level that has been set for a sustainable number of wild horses on the land , and reports of their negative impact on the environment , have been skewed in the favor of opposing human interest groups .

Although the BLM adopts a portion of roundup animals to new homes , costs for keeping them are escalating .

In 2013 , $ 46.2 million was spent keeping roughly 50,000 wild horses in short - and long-term holding pens .

Seed of a solution

Mustang Monument : Wild Horse Eco-Resort is a new boutique , luxury ranch that may offer a partial solution .

The brainchild of billionaire businesswoman , philanthropist and former wife of oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens , Madeleine Pickens , the new ranch is designed to provide a sanctuary for up to a thousand wild horses and a chance for tourists to connect with this iconic symbol of America .

By eliminating expensive holding pens , Pickens says that her ranch alone can save taxpayers as much as $ 2.5 million a year , while allowing the horses to roam free .

Mustang Monument

Each of the resort 's 10 reclaimed wood cottages and 10 live-in teepees have been designed with luxuriously rustic interiors , double beds and artisan bric-a-brac -- if Pottery Barn and Vogue were to elope West , this is where they 'd honeymoon .

Meals are served in an enormous hand-painted teepee , there 's a saloon with saddle bar stools , high-end gambling tables and a porch for cocktails with a perfect view of the grazing herd .

`` It 's good for your soul , '' resident cowboy Clay Naninni says . `` Just to watch them run . ''

Six hundred wild horses roam in a 4,000-acre enclave at the front of the ranch .

Experienced riders can saddle up and head out with resident cowboys , Clay Nannini and Marcus Morrison , for a high adrenalin gallop into the herd that feels , according to Clay , `` like riding into thunder . ''

For others , there are gentle trots and 4x4 wild horse safaris in search of nearby free-roaming bands , old gold mining settlements and luxurious picnics in mountain valleys .

The highlight : rattling down to a private meadow in an old wagon to serve breakfast to the herd .

Being surrounded by 600 wild , staring eyes and stamping hooves is a rare thrill .

Other guest experiences

Mustangs may be the ranch 's raison d'etre , but there 's more than horses here .

Hiking , abseiling , gambling tables , lasso lessons , an in-teepee spa and more are on offer .

Former Navy Seal and director of operations , Monty Heath , can also take you out on a high-powered ATV .

When an ex-special forces operative insists on doing the driving , you know he 's not going skimp on screams .

Two brothers from the local Lumbee tribe are on hand to teach Native American crafts -- from learning how to make beaded jewelry to creating medicine wheels , dream catchers and more .

Each night there 's storytelling by the fire and performances of sacred dance and traditional falsetto singing .

`` Horses are sacred to our people , '' the Native singers say . `` We treat them as human beings . ''

Things to do : The Ruby Mountains

The Ruby Mountains may be Nevada 's best kept secret .

The 80-mile range is right on the doorstep of the ranch and offers some of the finest outdoor opportunities in the state .

Lamoille Canyon is one of the most popular locations and is filled with fast flowing rivers , beaver dams and idyllic fishing and camping spots .

The 35-mile Ruby Crest Trail is a great way to see some of the best parts of the range and usually takes about three days to hike .

Things to do : Great Basin National Park

Great Basin National Park -- a 77,000-acre wilderness of glacier moraines , sagebrush meadows and forests of spruce , aspen and juniper -- is located three hours south of the ranch .

You can hike to the 13,000-foot summit of Wheeler Peak , find pristine alpine lakes and descend deep into the Lehman Caves , a mesmerizing underground complex of stalactites and stalagmites .

The park is most famously home to an ancient grove of bristlecone pines , the oldest living organism on Earth , whose roots were already in the ground when the Great Pyramids of Egypt were being built .

More information can be found on the Great Basin National Park website .

Mustang Monument : Wild Horse Eco Resort , outside of Wells , Nevada ; +1 858 759 5507 ; $ 1,000 per teepee per night and $ 1,500 per cottage per night , including full board and all activities .

Aaron Millar is a travel writer who has traveled extensively in North and Central America . He blogs at The Blue Dot Perspective .

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An estimated 40,000 mustangs still roam free in the Great Basin of the United States

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Mustang Monument : Wild Horse Eco Resort is a sanctuary for up to 1,000 wild horses

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Visitors can connect with mustangs at the resort , which also offers hiking , abseiling and gambling